ABOUT OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL

Visitors that came to O R Tambo airport recently were pleasantly surprised to see how smoothly things are run at the airport. The recent developments since 2010, as preparation for the FIFA World Cup, surely made a great impression on many visitors to the airport.

The international terminal, constructed to house the all new Airbus A380, adding to that, the functionality of the upgraded shopping area, the overall neat and pleasing decor off the airport inner areas, not to mention the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link above the terminal, all made their contribution to the smooth running of the newly renovated JNB Airport.

Another project that is under way will cost in the region of R8 billion, to include its own international check-in facilities, shops and lounges. By 2015, the airport is expected to reach a capacity for around 24 million passengers per annum. The runways are currently considered to be the longest in the world at 3300 and 4400m respectively.

Visitors to the O R Tambo International Airport will be delighted to know that there are various amenities available within short distance from the airport. Their accommodation needs are covered by places like the Airport Grand Hotel that is a five minute drive away from the airport, offering the business executives easy access to other major centers of Pretoria and Johannesburg.

O R Tambo International Airport is a hot and high airport. Situated almost 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) above mean sea level, the air is thin. This means some aircraft must reduce weight by loading less fuel than they would otherwise. The thinner air is also the reason for the longer than usual runways. On some routes such as to North America it means flights from Johannesburg need to refuel en-route while the return flight originating from a lower altitude airport can upload enough fuel to reach Johannesburg non-stop.

O R Tambo International Airport is one of the few airports in the world that has non-stop flights to all six inhabited continents (others include Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Doha International Airport).

O R Tambo has two terminals handling domestic and international flights.

Terminal A handles international traffic and Terminal B domestic flights. Both terminals consist of two levels, with departures on the upper level and arrivals on the lower. The two terminals are interlinked.

There is no shortage of activity for visitors at O R Tambo International Airport. It easily compares with some malls in terms of shopping and dining facilities. Whether you are in transit or boarding a flight to any destination, you can pass time shopping in the retail stores and dining in restaurants in the terminal building.

South Africa has extremely good mobile network coverage and the country’s two leading mobile network operators offer cellphone rentals at O R Tambo to visitors.

There are also four currency booths where visitors can convert their money to the local rand on arrival or to other currencies on departure. Absa, Rennies, Master Currency and American Express all cash traveller’s cheques and convert some currencies.